I'm surprised this film has such a low viewership here on IMDb, back in 1971 it garnered a fair share of notoriety. It's not so much a football movie as a movie with football in it as a backdrop to the friendship that developed between white player Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and black man Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams). Sayers went on to have a brief but highly productive NFL career following the death of his teammate, and was regarded by his peers as one of the most difficult players to tackle because of his elusive running style. The story follows Sayers from his first day at training camp and how he met Piccolo, to the sad and debilitating end of Pic's career when he was suddenly stricken with cancer. In a film like this, there are bound to be teary eyed moments, as one can relate to the trauma brought on to one's family and friends when the disease begins to take it's toll. It does get rather melodramatic near the end of the picture, as Sayers announces Piccolo's illness to their Chicago Bears teammates, and the scenes at the hospital take their toll on one's emotions. Especially discomforting are Pic's words to wife Joy (Shelley Fabares) when he finally comes to terms that his playing days are over - "I got too much to do yet...". Though we know at the outset that the story ends with death, it's true inspiration comes from the heartwarming story of a post-racial relationship that transcended the color barrier at a time when the country was attempting to heal itself of the racial trauma of the Sixties.
Review of Brian's Song
